Posing with her furry friend is Becky Richmond who entered the Costume Competition as the Crazy Cat Lady. Richmond was name the Costume winner at post-plunge ceremonies at Fireside Grille.

The annual ‘Polar Plunge’ at Hurricane City Park produced close to $24,000 for the support of the Special Olympics program and on Saturday, February 4.

John Corbett, Special Olympics WV Head, reported that 104 brave souls put fear aside and jumped into a pool filled with water extracted from the ice-covered Hurricane Reservoir. Corbett stated that the annual Polar Plunges generate the revenue needed for Special Olympic athletes to compete in the Winter Games which are held in January at Canaan Valley State Park, the Summer Games which are held in Charleston during June, and in Cheering Competition at WVU in Morgantown in March.

Corbett is pleased to announce that Shawn Bayliss earned the top fundraiser title by soliciting $3,250 from supporters who enjoy seeing their favorite attorney becoming a real cool person. Corbett said that Bayliss has been the top fundraiser in each and every Hurricane Polar Plunge. Hurricane has been the home to a February Polar Plunge for the last six years.

The event also produced a costumed plunger winner. Corbett reported that costume competitors were up in number for this year’s event. Putnam beauty pageant winners contributed to the increase with WV Cupcake Festival, Shanghai Parade, and Hurricane Independence Day winners entering the contest and taking the plunge.

The chilled plungers and supporters gathered at the Fireside Grille after the event to warm up and enjoy the Fireside offerings. The costume contest winner was the Crazy Cat Lady aka Becky Richmond.